Pierre-François Prepares For A Choice
Throughout the rest of the day, there was nothing that took over his thoughts as much as the proposition that Pierre-François would take on a secret nighttime task set forth for him by a total stranger. If he were to accept the proposition, there was no telling who he would meet or if the work would be more than just work, but something even more important to whoever was in charge of the operation. He wished he could have seen or heard whatever meeting of people brought on the idea for this type of international commerce, whether there were significantly wealthy merchants behind it, or a contract agreement between them. What if someone from the American colonies came up with the idea and made contact about it with French port authorities? He wondered how much money was involved, and though assumed petty compared to the real motive behind the idea for the operation indicated by the visitor to the candle shop, he wondered if the volunteers were to be paid money, and how much. One consolation was that if he chooses to accept the proposition, Jacques would not take part in it so there would be less to worry about. Jacques would have the understanding that he could help by checking up on his safety, like a correspondence by letter, if such provisions were available for the crew that the man was referring to. There was also the possibility that Jacques would have to bring one of his friends to fill in the candle work normally done by Pierre-François. It just so happened that unlike for Pierre-François, Jacques's circle of friends included someone interested in becoming a candle maker.
That evening Pierre-François pondered the choice over a dinner of poulet à la fromage (chicken with cheese) and the normal white wine that went with poultry fare. The table candlelight flickered over the sumptuous gravy, but even though he appeared like he was intimately enjoying every bite slowly and without distraction like a good Frenchman should, his mind was not on food.
The voice of his thoughts was speaking louder inside him than the family conversation that seemed completely boring in comparison.
"Quels sont les risques de danger?" ("What are the risks of danger?") He wished someone from that unknown crew could come as a confidential visitor and answer the question and others immediately.
"Quels seront les bienfaits?" ("What would be the benefits?")
"Qui disait non et pourquoi pas, `a part de ne savoir pas la langue anglaise?" ("Who said no, and why not, besides to not know the English language?")
"Est-que j'en sois assez bien?" ("Would I be good enough for it?")
"Qu'est-ce que se passerait si je tombe aux aucunes fautes?" ("What would happen if I fall into any mistakes?")
"Est-ce que le travail actuel aussi simple que j'en pense? J'ai dèja mon propre métier quotidien qui me suffit!" ("Is that actual work as simple as I think it is? I already have my own daily trade that suffices me!")
"Comment se ferait-t-il le fin d'un tel travail?" ("How would the end of such work go?")
These thoughts of wonder came on top of obvious thoughts of how he would make himself available physically and by principle to follow through with the tasks. Would the travel and lodging away from home and family be worth it? He again wished he could meet that night with someone who knows every detail of the secret night supply crew and its work. His deadline for decision could be in the morning or afternoon. It was important that he make his decision literally by the time he arrives at the beginning of his candle making work for the day. He still had to prepare for the actual preparation. There were certain tasks in the candle shop that Jacques would have to do if the definite word would be yes. He wasn't even sure if Jacques was capable of handling the ramifications of his would-be absence, or to what extent. This was what made this proposition such a new kind of experience to come along. It was clearly not the same as a familiar friend asking him for a favor, and accordingly with the traditionally French values system he grew up with, he strongly believed should not be treated as such. What if he decides to say no? He would have to analyze what he will have missed out on. The man who came into the candle shop mentioned nothing about whether or not anyone who said no would have a second chance to accept the proposition. What about if it was the other way around?
Since the kind of work involved would have no connection to candle making, it comforted him to know that it would not come as a cost to him or the family business, and bear no risk of ruin for the Simonieux family in terms of stock or trade. It was assumed that American people produce their own candles, and from their own raw materials originating in their land with no need for imported supply from abroad. Better yet, it would not cost him any money to accept the man's proposition. It seemed as though the fact that the tasks were secret had something to do with the apparent gratuitous basis on the part of the participants. In other words, by virtue of the operation's purpose, the people who accepted the proposal and followed through with it were by no means made to pay for meals, lodging, and transportation out of their own pockets. He was eager to ask the man expected to show up at the candle shop if the participants are responsible for paying the cargo tariffs instead. He hoped that the answer was no. He believed by principle that the working crew should not have to pay for the privilege of being a part of something secret in doing the work, even if there would be a wage for them to take home after the work is all done. He was not naïve enough to assume that the wage would be sizable. He knew from the dynamics of the business culture of his country that no ordinary civilian could become rich from doing something as part of an operation imposed by someone of the French aristocracy, let alone something secret. He thought to himself that if there was no wage, there should be no aspect of the secret work deemed detrimental to the good graces of the royal court in Versailles, or move against or even almost move against any decrees by the king himself.
Because of the secretive nature of what he was propositioned, he knew he could not request the advice of his other family members at bedtime or at breakfast, should they disapprove of a choice to say yes to the man who has a secret business dealing with America. This led him to consider the standpoint of whoever else had said yes to the proposition, and whether or not their acceptance of the proposition would have any effect on their families or whatever trades they were involved in. After all, not every tradesman in France had the same type of dealings and financial considerations as those of a candle maker. He had only the few hours of the overnight to analyze whether or not to accept the proposition, all silently. He knew that whatever his choice be, he could not be selfish concerning his family. If word got out and his parents found out about their son's involvement in something like that, political or not, it was possible that it would be time to both save face and call upon assistance to stop the involvement activity both for his sake and the sake of his family. For all they would think, they would fear Pierre-François would likely end up in jail.